Every year, some of the best college football matchups are non-conference games between the nation’s top teams. That’s why it’s newsworthy when two powerhouses schedule games 12 years from now. Here is a look at the most intriguing non-conference college football matchups in 2019. Some of these games are the second game of a home-and-home series and others mark the first time the two teams have played in a while.
1. #6 LSU at #7 Texas, September 7th
The Tigers travel to Austin on the second weekend of the college football season. This is an intriguing matchup with the proximity of the two schools. With a win in Austin, LSU can bring more ammunition to the table in its Texas recruiting efforts. Both teams have preseason playoff aspirations that have the potential to get derailed early in September with a loss. In the DevyWatch Preseason Top 25 poll, both schools tied for 6th in the poll, but we broke the tie in favor of LSU. I expect LSU to pull this game out if they fully adapt to their more modern offensive scheme.
2. #9 Notre Dame at #3 Georgia, September 21st
These teams faced each other just two years ago in South Bend. The Bulldogs pulled off the win with a late-game TD then a sack-fumble on Brandon Wimbush to seal the deal. Bulldogs’ fans totally took over Notre Dame Stadium, at least half of the crowd was in red and black. Irish fans will look to flock to Athens, Georgia attempting to do the same. This is another matchup of two top-10 teams in the DevyWatch Top 25. Notre Dame will enter the game coming off a bye week then face New Mexico; the Irish should have plenty of time to prepare for this early season matchup.
3. #9 Notre Dame at #8 Michigan, October 26th
The second of the Irish’s big road games takes place in Ann Arbor. After pulling off an “upset” of the Wolverines during opening weekend in 2018, Michigan will look for a bit of revenge. Notre Dame has lost its last four games at Ann Arbor and hasn’t won there since 2005 (did have a four-year hiatus in the series). Shea Patterson vs Notre Dame’s secondary will be the key matchup of the game. The Irish boast one of the best safety tandems in the nation, along with the very underrated Troy Pride at corner.
4. #13 Texas A&M at #1 Clemson, September 7th
September 7th is shaping up as a big weekend in the landscape of college football. The Aggies travel to Death Valley and look to payback the Tigers after losing at home in 2018. Most likely the toughest regular test for Clemson in its quest to repeat as National Champs. With a win, Clemson can almost coast to the playoff unless a team like Florida State or South Carolina surprises and can give the Tigers a battle. Clemson is just too good to lose at home to Texas A&M.
5. #10 Oregon vs #14 Auburn, August 31st
The Chick-fil-A Kickoff game pits another SEC team against a PAC12 opponent. One side has a proven starting QB heading into his third season as a starter compared to the other that has a tFR and rFR battling for the QB1 spot. If Auburn can’t get decent play from their QBs, Oregon will have a great chance to beat the Tigers. Outside of the QB matchup, how will Oregon fair against the Auburn defensive and offensive lines? The PAC12 hasn’t fared very well recently when facing SEC lines.
Other Intriguing Games
Miami (FL) vs Florida, August 24th – In-state rivals kicking off the college football season!
Boise State vs Florida State, August 31st – Can Boise State knock off FSU and its new Kendal Briles’-led offense?
Washington State vs Houston, September 13th – This one has a ton of potential to be a fun shootout.
Stanford at UCF, September 14th – UCF always talks a big game, what happens when they face a legit Power 5 team?
USC at BYU, September 14th – A decent possibility that USC rolls into Provo, Utah, 0-2. Losing to BYU and falling to 0-3, does that finally get Clay Helton fired?
Army at Michigan, September 14th – The Wolverines could be on upset alert if they overlook the Black Knights. If Army can pull off this upset, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that they have a 13-0 regular season.
